This time of year diets are everywhere - from the latest fad diets to tried and tested old faviourites, everybody seems to have a new plan on how to be healthier this year. And so do we - but by considering your diet, rather than adopting one 😉
Happy 2025 everybody - we hope you had a lovely Christmas!
After all that delicious food and drink, most of us are turning our attention towards being a little kinder to our bodies in January - whether that's dry January, Veganuary, or just adding a few more veggies and a few less mince pies 😋
Any or all of these options have their merits of course and it's for you to decide what's best for you and your own unique circumstances. We're just here with one little thought to consider...
Do you want it to last?
Perhaps not - perhaps it's a temporary detox you're after and no alcohol/meat/dairy etc. for a month suits you down to the ground! But if you are after a longer term solution, perhaps be a little wary of constantly starting new diets - or even considering it a diet at all.
A diet makes us think of restriction, avoidance, sacrifice and these are things that are hard for most of us to sustain long term without making us feel deprived or otherwise unhappy. The temptation after a successful dieting period is to return to our original way of eating - and so begins the cycle again.
Per a recent Harvard Health study:
'Popular diets simply don't work for the vast majority of people. Or more accurately, they are modestly effective for a while'
Instead, why not consider how you could change your current diet (whether in small ways or large, whichever suits your circumstances) in a way that you personally will find sustainable?
Maybe you're somebody who relies on a lot of fast foods which are typically high in sugar and fat but low in nutrients. You could start by switching out one extra day a week when you avoid fast food and rely on fresh foods (if time - or ability! - are the issue then remember that not all ready meals are made equal, consider switching to one of the healthier ones).
One day a week may sound small to some of you or may seem a mountain to others, but once you have begun and kept it up for some time, it becomes your new normal. And then, once you're ready, you can look to increase the number of days from there.
If you're somebody who is looking to make small but significant changes to an already reasonably balanced diet you might want to check this out where we note some of the top ingredients we embrace or avoid here at chrissy cooks for me.
Small steps can sometimes feel frustratingly slow, but making small sustainable changes really can make the difference between failure and success - why not make 2025 the year all your good intentions stick? Foodwise at least 😉
And if you're local to us in Whitstable, Kent, we can help you out with some food that will keep you on the straight and narrow, whilst still tasting as yummy as all that Christmas food we're already missing!
Speaking of which - coming soon: a new curry we think you might love 😋
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